Type-effacing device



Nov. 3, 1964 c. c. TALMAGE TYPE-EFFACING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1962 INVENTOR.

CALVIN C. TALMAGE ATTORNEY" C. C. TALMAGE TYPE-EFFACING DEVICE Nov. 3, 1964 2 Sheet S-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1962 RE m mm mm a w 8 s a P. 4 6 6 2 A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,155,216 TYPE-EFFACENG DEVICE Calvin C. Tahnage, RED. Box 565, Neptune, NJ. Fiied Mar. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 182,321 1 Qiairn. (Ci. 197-481) The subject matter of this invention relates to typeefiacing devices for the elimination of typing errors, and has for its objective the creation of a device by which errors in typing may be eifaced simultaneously from the carbon copies, or second sheets, and from the ribbon original without removing the papers from the typewriter.

In the present state of the art there has been developed several types of chemically coated papers, in strip or tab size, which successfully obliterate typing errors in the following manner. The strip is placed against the page and over the incorrectly typed letter or letters, with the chemically treated surface facing the paper, and the identical incorrect keys of the typewriter are struck, causing the chemicals to be imbedded in the impression of the incorrect letters on the paper and so obliterating them. The strip is then removed and the correct keys are struck in the same spaces, imprinting the correct letter or letters therein. As the strips are used they must be so placed that an unused portion of the chemical surface is applied against each wrong letter to be obliterated, inasmuch as the chemical coating on the strip is good for only one obliteration in each particular place of contact.

In most instances one or more carbon copies are typed together with the original. In such cases a strip must be placed against the error on each carbon copy as well as against the error on the original, in positions so as to utilize each strip for the correction of as many errors as possible. This is done by rolling the pages up from the typewriter platen for free access to the error area, arranging a strip separately against each of the pages separately, in the same position, rolling the pages back to the original position in the typewriter, retyping the errors, raising the pages again to remove the strips individually, returning the pages to the original position and typing the correct letters in the corrected spaces.

These operations consume a considerable amount of time and effort, and fail to obtain the optimum use of the type-elfacing strips used.

By my invention I arrange for a plurality of holders, to each of which a type-etfacing strip is secured, secured together in fixed parallel relationship, whereby the strip for each carbon copy is adapted to come in registry in precisely identical positions over the same error on each carbon copy as the strip over the error on the original, or ribbon copy, the latter strip acting as a guide for all the holders and strips so secured, and whereby, following corrections, the holders and strips are removed simultaneously with one motion.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, is the creation of a type-etfacing device whereby a plurality of type-effacing strips can be positioned over the same error on both the original page and all carbon copies, in identical position, with the first strip acting as a guide for the rest, and whereby, following correction of the error, the strips can be simultaneously removed as one unit.

Another important object of my invention is the creation of a type-eifacing device by which maximum use may be obtained from each type-effacing strip.

A third important object of my invention is the creation of a type-efiacing device which can position any desired number of type-efijacing strips, in accordance with the number of carbon copies being typed.

Still another important object of my invention lies in the creation of a type-etfacing device which is simple to operate and economical to use.

Other salient objects, advantages and functional features will become more readily apparent from an examination of the following specification, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, shown in position upon a typewriter backplate (typewriter not fully shown);

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the clamp used in my invention;

PEG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, taken on lines d4 of FIG. 1;

PEG. 5 is an enlarged front view of a preferred embodiment of holder;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken on lines 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a side exploded view showing the relationship of the holders and type-etfacing strips with respect to the pages to be corrected and the typewriter platen, in position for operation.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the different views.

Illustrative of the embodiment shown in the drawings, my type-efiacing device 10 comprises a plurality of strip holders 12 which are secured in parallel contact relationship with a clamp 14. The clamp 14 is attached to and supported by a bar arm 16 by means of a screw 18, and is rotatable thereon. The screw 18 can be loosened or tightened at will so that the clamp 14 can be rotated with respect to the arm 16, yet remain fixed in any position with respect thereto to which it is rotated. The other end of the arm 16 is similarly secured to the raised lip 20 of a slotted guide plate 22 by means of a screw 24, movable in identical manner thereto as the clamp 14 is with the screw 18. The guide plate 22 is slidably secured within a stabilizer plate 26 attached to the back or support plate 28 of a typewriter (shown only as support plate 28, platen 5d and bale rod 66) by the engagement of its sides within the flanges 30 of the stabilizer plate 26. A set-screw 32 is provided within the slot 34, threaded to the stabilizer plate 25, so that the guide plate 22 may be moved forward or back along the stabilizer plate 26 by releasing the set-screw 32, and secured in any desired position and extension by tightening the set-screw 32.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a plurality of strip holders 12 are provided for engagement in parallel, contact relationship with each other by the clamp 14. Each of the holders 12 is provided with a type-efiacing strip 36, which is secured along the lower edge of one end of the holder 12. The holders 12 are flat and are made of a substantially rigid, thin material, such as cardboard, plastic or the like. The strips 36 are made of paper or other suitable material, and are coated upon one face 38 with an erasing or obliterating chemical substance compounded with an oily or waxy material, as is well known in the art, to give the strips 36 upon their faces 38 the necessary composition to achieve the desired results hereinafter described.

The clamp 14 is composed of two U-shaped sections 46 and 42, which are hingedly secured together at one end by a rivet 44, and are locked together in closed position by the engagement of a detent 46 on the section 40 with a recess 0r dimple 48 in the section 42, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The internal height of the clamp 14 is substantially the same as the width of the strip holders 12, so that the strip holders 12 fit snugly within the clamp 14. A pressure plate 50 is spring-tensioned within the clamp section 4% by means of helical spring 52 encircling rivets 54, as shown in FIG. 4, so that when two or more strip holders 3 .2 are secured within the clamp 14 they are pressed firmly together by the action of the pressure plate 55). While five holders 12 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 for illustration,

3 for purposes of simplicity only three holders 12 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

With the holders 12 so secured within the clamp 14 it is to be noted that they are firmly secured together in parallel relationship. It is also to be noted that lateral movement of the set of holders 12 in either direction may be effected, without opening the clamp 14, by manually grasping them on either side of the clamp 14, forcing them slightly against the pressure plate 59, and then sliding them to the left or right to the desired position, as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 2. When released, the holders 12 remain in the varied lateral position to which they have been transferred.

In the operation of my invention let us assume that the typist desires to make two carbon copies of a letter, in addition to the original, or ribbon, copy. She selects three holders 12, opens the clamp 14, and inserts the holders 12 into and through the clamp 14, with the surfaces 38 of the strips 36 facing away from her, as shown in FIG. 2, and locks the clamp 14, the holders 12 and strips 36 being parallel to each other. She then raises the holders 12 to a free position, so as not to interfere with the pages to be typed. The typist then inserts the necessary papers and carbons into the typewriter in the usual manner and begins to type the letter. In the course of typing she makes an error. Let us say, for example, that instead of typing the word wrong she types the word wtong. To eliminate the incorrect letter 1; the typist backspaces her machine to the letter t. She then rolls up the pages in the machine until the typed incorrect word clears the platen 56 and inserts one holder 12 and strip 36 between each carbon page and its carbon, with the front holder 12 and strip 36 upon the original page, and guides the strips 35 to appropriate position over the error, moving the guide plate 22, rotating the arm 16 and/or adjusting the holders 12 laterally in the clamp 14, as required, in the manner heretofore described. Having thus positioned the strips 36, the typist then rolls the combined papers, carbons and strips 36 back in the typewriter to original position, as shown in FIG. 7, where the strips 36 are shown disposed between each page 60 and its corresponding carbon 62, with the front strip 36 upon the page 64, and strikes the incorrect typewriter key t 53 again in the same place. This obliterates the error, leaving a blank space in the word, sic w ong. The typist then rolls the pages up from the platen again, until the strips 36 are free from the platen 56, swings the holders 12 out from between the pages and into a free position therefrom, and returns the pages to their original position against the platen 56, and strikes the correct typewriter key r to fill the blank space in the word.

In this manner the typist etfaces the error simultaneously on all of the carbon copies as well as the ribbon original of the letter being typed, using up the identical area on each strip 35 with each operation, since the first strip 3i: acts as a guide for all of the strips 36 being used, the imprint of the wrong letter t on the blank front surface of each strip 35 showing where the strips 36 may not be re-used. Maximum use of each set of strips 36 is thus obtained, since the strips 36 can be re-used until their entire front surfaces are covered with type imprint.

While the foregoing description of operation and use of my invention is fairly lengthy, it is clearly apparent that the actual operation consumes much less time than its description and, with development of skill in use, actual time for correction of typing errors in this manner can be reduced to a minimum. This is more particularly apparent when more than two carbon copies are being typed, especially when the number of carbon copies being made runs to seven or eight, as frequently occurs, in which event a larger number of holders 12 are insorted in the clamp 14, one for each carbon copy and one for the ribbon original. Since the use of my invention eliminates the necessity of placing independent strips of type-effacing paper separately between each sheet and its carbon, and, following correction of the error, removing them separately, it is clear that a considerable amount of time is saved in correction of errors, more especially when the number of carbon copies being made is large. With my invention the strips 36 are placed simultaneously with one operation, and removed simultaneously in one operation.

In the embodiment shown and described the arrangement of parts of my device 153 is such that when it is not in use it can be moved to a position Where it will not interfere with the normal operation of the typewriter, and, when required, the device can be moved in such a manner that the strips 36 will reach any portion of the paper being typed. A further modification is shown in the bores 63 located in the ends of the holders 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A pin or clip can be inserted through the bores 58 to hold any desired number of holders 12 together in aligned arrangement.

While the embodiment shown and described is a preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood that it is not intended to be considered as a limitation in any way, but that my invention will encompass all of the features of novelty possible within the scope of the disclosure. Varions changes may thus be made in the construction, composition and arrangement of parts without limitation upon or departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof inherent therein.

, Having described my invention, I claim:

A type eilacing device for attachment to a typewriter or the like comprising a plurality of substantially rigid strip holders provided each with a strip of thin flexible material secured to one end thereof and dependent therefrom,

each of the flexible strips provided with a type eifacing coating upon one of its surfaces,

a clamp adapted to receive the free ends of the holders,

a spring-actuated pressure plate disposed within the clamp to secure the holders in fixed parallel relationship to each other with the coated surfaces of the flexible strips disposed parallel to each other and facing in the same direction,

a stabilizer plate secured to one side of the typewriter,

a guide plate slidably mounted in the stabilizer plate,

and

a bar arm pivotally connecting the clamp with the guide plate, whereby the type effacing strips are shiftable as a unit into and out of the line of type impact against the platen and laterally with respect to the platen.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 385,391 Underwood et al July 3, 1888 852,191 McFadden Apr. 30, 1907 1,407,934 Cossitt Feb. 28, 1922 1,448,335 Cossitt Mar. 13, 1923 1,736,558 Van Buren Nov. 19, 1929 1,905,118 Nadell Apr. 25, 1933 2,011,104 Gillson Aug. 13, 1935 2,767,650 Yunker et al Oct. 23, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 25,602 Great Britain 1913 528,589 Great Britain Nov. 1, 1940 

